Last Updated on December 24, 2015 by Kristi Linauer
Yesterday was just one of those days. You know what I mean? Just one of those days when all of the pressures of life start pressing in from all directions, and you feel like you’re about to snap. One of those days when you feel like you might be headed towards some sort of psychotic break that could very possibly land you as the featured story on the evening news.
Yeah…one of those days. 😀
It’s never pretty for any of us, but when you’re a fiery-tempered blogger like I am, and your crazy spills out online, well…you know it’s time to take a step back, take a deep breath, and possibly even get some therapy. 😀
Well, I don’t have time for actual therapy, so I did the next best thing. (Actually, in my humble opinion, the best thing.)
Demolition.
Remember that awkward storage cabinet that was above the tub in the hallway bathroom?
Well, yesterday afternoon I grabbed a hammer and a ladder, and I went to town on that sucker. I beat the heck out of that thing, and while probably at least half of the beating and whacking was completely unnecessary for the actual removal of the cabinet, it sure did feel good.
BEST…THERAPY…EVER!!! 😀
I still couldn’t get that one big piece out. I’ll need to get a circular saw after it today, which is fine, because I’m in a much better head space today. I didn’t do it yesterday because…well…a circular saw in the hands of a crazy mad woman on the verge of a mental break is almost never a good idea. 😀
Seriously…demolition therapy, people! It works wonders, saves money on actual therapy, and is the single best thing about owning an old house!
Anyway, I have people ask me all the time about my ceiling, and if I’m going to add crown moulding in my living room. So this is a good time for me to actually show y’all what I’m dealing with.
The ceilings in the entire original part of the house (with the exception of Matt’s game room that has paneling) is covered with polystyrene ceiling tiles that are attached to 1×4’s that have been nailed into the ceiling. This is in the living room, entryway, original dining room, kitchen, my office, bedroom, hallway bathroom, and the hallway.
Obviously I want to get rid of these before I add any crown moulding in the house, but I don’t want to remove them until….
(C’mon…say it along with me…)
Until we level the foundation. 🙂
Only then will I remove them, see what condition the drywall is in, do any needed drywall repair, add recessed lighting and reposition existing lighting, and then finally add crown moulding.
Anyway, I’m obviously not going to start actually working on the bathroom just yet. I already have too many projects started for me to get sidetracked with yet another. This served its purpose yesterday, and now I’ll head back to the living room (after I take a circular saw to that one remaining piece). After all, I’ve got a fireplace to build!! 😀
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I hope you’ll join me on my DIY and decorating journey! If you want to follow my projects and progress, you can subscribe below and have each new post delivered to your email inbox. That way you’ll never miss a thing!
42 Comments
Bridget
January 30, 2014 at 11:36 amI am addicted to your blog! I have an older home with so many ideas in my head, but I also have 2 little ones that make doing things difficult. So for now I will decorate vicariously through you! 🙂
janpartist
January 30, 2014 at 11:37 amYou poor thing, I still think you should go to lunch with your Mom. Scream, cry a little, get it out! But, demolition is good too-great job by the way. Demolition is always better if someone else picks up after you, not so fun cleaning up after yourself. God love ya with that ceiling project, I can’t imagine removal of hundreds of 1X4’s.
Leigh Anne
January 30, 2014 at 11:59 amDemo = fun times! I’m loving your blog. I have those same awful brown/tan tiles in our downstairs bathroom. Halfway up the wall, on the floor and all the way up the show. Ick!! I was wondering if you had other pictures of this bathroom on your blog? I did a search but didn’t fin any. We can’t afford to remodel that brown bathroom (especially since we also have the same version in blue upstairs!) so I thought about using a Rust-Oleum kit for painting it all, sort of as a phase 1 fix. Thoughts? What are your plans for this bathroom? What’s funny is we also have an awkward cabinet in our bathroom but it’s to the side of the shower and slopes since it’s under the stairs.
Sheila F
January 30, 2014 at 2:35 pmLeigh Anne, Please excuse me for stepping in on your question. But I just think that would be a great idea (just be sure to use the kit for the tub resurfacing in the shower) I know Kristi used something similar on her tub in the Condo and it held up well. Good lucK!
Leigh Anne
January 30, 2014 at 12:01 pmExcuse my typos!! Typing on an iPad with a 4 yr old in my lap lol
Gail E.
January 30, 2014 at 12:16 pmI had the same thing in my bathroom. Couldn’t believe how much bigger it felt when we took it down. Bathroom take it all down fill in a few nail holes with spackle to you have time to really fix it up. It will relieve the stress of the tiles. Lucky you, I had glued tiles on my ceiling.
Brenda Stratton
January 30, 2014 at 12:23 pmI am so enjoying watching your progress on your new home! While there is nothing structural that needs to be done in the home I live in now, you have given me so many great ideas for redecorating and DIY projects. I love what you have done so far in yours, and can’t wait to see the new fireplace! And the new color in your living room is fabulous!
Krikit
January 30, 2014 at 12:38 pmAs exhibited through you blogging, I am in awe of your humour! Would that I had been imparted with such I’d likely be a much better person. BUT, I can be inspired by yours! 😉 God, make me funny! 😛
Andrea
January 30, 2014 at 12:39 pmGlad you had some “demolition therapy”! I constantly bubble over with crazy. I’m used to it now.
Judi
January 30, 2014 at 12:49 pmI start to smile before I open your post–your blog is so real. A friend came upon me as I was putting something together in the back yard. He said that with power tools in my hands, I became a different person. Tearing down, ripping up, drilling away–it all feels so good. Atta girl.
Sue
January 30, 2014 at 12:56 pmGood for you! Work out that aggression with a little demo. Thanks for not using the saw though. : )
Can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for that bathroom.
“Has to wait until the floor is level.” “Has to wait until the floor is level.” “Has to wait… : O
maria
January 30, 2014 at 1:10 pmoh boy….i thought i was being rebellious painting a concrete wall in the laundry room (your teal color, i’m not rebellious enough to pick out a color solo…) but i think i might go to town on the crappy closet thing down there too. thank you, Kristi-my-decorating-demolition-Muse!!!
Julie
January 30, 2014 at 1:15 pmI agree, demolition is the best therapy ever. I am also happy always have owned old houses that needed remodeling, lol. Once the new one is done, I am getting an old house for my oldest daughter. Then, my son. Then, my second son… I have six kids so I have a long way to go before I run out of old houses to renovate :p Although there is is really old restaurant/bar/rooms place that I would love to buy and renovate before I get started on the kids’s houses.
Anyway, ceiling tiles… is it just me or do they make rooms seem so much smaller ? I hate them. People constantly tell me to stop sanding the ceilings and just get tiles. Nope, sanding and varnishing is much better. More work, sure. But so much prettier.
Charlotte
January 30, 2014 at 1:42 pmLOL! I went to town demo-ing a “room” (two walls in corner) that my oldest built in my cellar after the 3rd son finally left. It felt SOOO good. I smashed those walls to bits! Now they can visit but they can’t move back in!
Charlotte
January 30, 2014 at 2:05 pmGo get ’em tiger…lol…wouldn’t want to get on your bad side! (just kidding). Good for you…what a great way to work out your frustration & be productive at the same time!!
Only them better than demo….is retail therapy!
Sheila F
January 30, 2014 at 2:41 pmAlready that opens the bathroom. I am so sorry that you must read through the hate. I want to say ignore them but it really isn’t that easy to read hate from people you don’t know and then ignore it. Please remember that you do have followers who truly enjoy and appreciate your talent. We also learn so much from you. There is a great deal of love for you from people you have never met! LOL BTW I have those same tiles in my 1900 Victorian. They were in the kitchen, butlers pantry, dining and living rooms. They fell down all by themselves in the dining room and butlers pantry. LOL So thankful they are lightweight. We are in the process of doing a fake “Coffered Ceiling” in the dining room. I will send pics when done. (if they look good LOL)
Love ya,
Sheila F.
Amy
January 30, 2014 at 2:54 pmHahahaha!! Good for you! I’m glad you’re feeling better!
Ginger
January 30, 2014 at 2:56 pmHahahaha “a circular saw in the hands of a crazy mad woman on the verge of a mental break is almost never a good idea” lol…probably not!
Kristi, I know how frustrated you must get at times and overwhelmed but just so you know…and I am sure I’m not alone when I say I get excited every day when your blog pops up in my email. So you make a lot of us smile. 🙂
jon anne winstead
January 30, 2014 at 3:18 pmOMG!! If my husband came home to that, he would COMMIT me!! But then I’m not you and he’s not use to seeing me do the great things you do and wonderful things you accomplish!!
doreene
January 30, 2014 at 3:34 pmHey my dear,
You had been asking about electric fireplaces in one of your former posts. We had a real fireplace that needed lots of work to bring it up to code. Of course that meant lots of $$$ as well. Since my husband and myself are not such sit in front of a fireplace people, we closed off the flue and redressed the fireplace. it has had a brick facing and a brick seat. Hubby got rid of the seat and fixed the front and then we covered the brick with fire board and then made the mantel. We cheated a bit by buying a mantel package at one of the hardware store here in Canada.. I will attempt to send you a photo. Darn I cannot send it. I tried copy and paste.
Christina Ruby
January 30, 2014 at 3:44 pmI am addicted to your blog! Great Post! Looking forward to get more information from you. I have an older home with so many ideas in my head, but I also have 2 little ones that make doing things difficult. So for now I will decorate vicariously through you!
Cheryl
January 30, 2014 at 3:46 pmI love your blog, and how real you are. Go ahead vent we a have broad shoulders. After all look at the greatness you share with all your DIY inspiration. I’m loving the teal, your right it’s you all the way! So looking forward to the fireplace your about to start. You go girl! 🙂
Marisa Ruffolo
January 30, 2014 at 4:03 pmShoot! You’re welcome to come to my place any time to do demolition! If you’re ever in my neck of the woods (Ontario, Canada), come on by and have at her! LOL!
So glad you’re feeling better! :o)
Gayle Pratt
January 31, 2014 at 12:25 amI agree! when she is done at your house she can go west demo woman…. go Alberta bound! I live in a run down 100+ year home………..(love hate relationship! lol)
Keep it going Kristi- we love ya!
Gilmer Gal
January 30, 2014 at 4:14 pmIf anyone deserves to beat the life out of an ugly cabinet, it’s you. NO FEAR! But, if it’s not too late, please be careful with that circular saw. Scary stuff. By the way, you chipped your tile border. Such a shame…
Alta
January 30, 2014 at 4:37 pmthat loose tile is no problem for Kristi! She’ll have that puppy back up and the whole tub/shower refinished before she’s through I bet.
Genelle McDaniel
January 30, 2014 at 4:57 pmDoesn’t it really feel good to be rid of that ugly cabinet? Plus the therapy. Happy to see how you cope.
Melinda @ Love Melinda
January 30, 2014 at 4:59 pmA good demo always makes me feel better too!
debbie
January 30, 2014 at 5:05 pmDemolition and boxing are both great stress relievers.
Take care
Jacqui
January 30, 2014 at 6:57 pmGlad you are finding a balance! Lol I love demo too, much safer for the community. BTW, you asked for ideas for gluing paper on those gorgeous lamps you did. I was in an art supply store so I asked on your behalf. They suggested rubber cement would not curl paper! I liked those lamps so much I am gong to try a similar reject and will use rubber cement. Right after I finish the succulent plants project that I at several pkgs of pistachios for!! Love your blog Kristi, you keep it real
Jacqui
January 30, 2014 at 6:59 pmSimilar project…darn fingers and spell check!
Elisha @ Pneumatic Addict Furniture
January 30, 2014 at 8:45 pmDemolition therapy. Reminds me of “death therapy” : )
Lynn
January 30, 2014 at 9:01 pmThank you for making me laugh! Sending you hugs now. Keep up the great work and ideas!
Sue
January 30, 2014 at 10:36 pmWatching you remodel (love reading your blog) is like watching you peel back layers of an onion. What cracks me up is that every layer you have to remove is something that a decade or two or four made someone really happy when they installed it and was the height of decorating fashion. Makes you wonder how future generations will look back on what we do. Course what we are all doing is so timeless!
Racheal
January 30, 2014 at 11:03 pmI think about that too! I am putting so much work/money/time into this house and I often imagine people 50 years from now looking at all my hard work as though I’ve coated the entire house in some polystyrene tiles or something lol. Oh well I’m having a good time with the process anyway.
Bonnie
January 31, 2014 at 8:37 amKristi,
So glad you are blogging; it makes me feel good and releases my own stress to feel a part of this online community that shares information, ideas, humor and musings.
thank you so very much!!!!!
Robin
January 31, 2014 at 8:41 amI am a new reader and I love your blog. You make me feel like if she can do it, so can I! I especially like how clearly you describe what you do. Keep up the good work!
Kelly Blount
January 31, 2014 at 10:37 amIf I had a hammer,
I’d hammer in the morning,
I’d hammer in the evening,
All over this land,
I’d hammer out danger,
I’d hammer out a warning,
I’d hammer out love between,
My brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.
Peter, Paul & Mary – If I Had A Hammer
Love the blog! Keep up the good work! (make that “great” work!)
Shirlee
January 31, 2014 at 12:34 pmWhat an odd place for a cabinet. I wouldn’t like that looming over my head when in the tub or shower.
I really enjoy the demolition process and you’re right, it’s great (free) therapy.
tracy
January 31, 2014 at 1:26 pmI don’t have anything inside to smash. I have been known to take out my frustrations on unruly plants and trees in my yard! My neighbors say that my plants live in fear! If they don’t perform as expected, they face the ax..insert maniacal laughter here…..
Ps. Those tiles don’t have asbestos, I hope?!
bbrunophotography
February 3, 2014 at 5:29 pmGosh, Kristi…keep me away from hammers! My husband has a collection of about 25, so I would have my pick.
Your post was funny but also true. I bet that did feel good, and now you don’t have to look at that cabinet anymore.
Here’s to stress relief!
Laura | Zurleys
February 9, 2014 at 5:01 amDemolition is just the best! Such a stress reliever. We’ve been doing a lot of redecorating at the moment, so our garden looks like a demolition yard!